Collocating gauge



' July 30, 1946.

D. F.V RlNGlE l Y 2,404,889

COLLOCATING GAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l i /ff/uw ff ff) N im@ m Kfig@ J5 MW M7,

July 30, 1946. D. F. RINGlE COLLOCATING GAGE Filed Sept. 14, 1943 far Patented July 30, 1946 COLLOCATDN' G GAUGE Donald F. Ringie, Springfield, Vt., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the Goverment of the United States of America Application September 14, 1943, Serial No. 502,280

The present invention relates to a gauge and more particularly to a collocating gauge adapted to locate the axial plane of a transverse center line across the end of a threaded object such as a tube, rod and the like with relation to a previously determined point on the thread of the threaded object.

` In the manufacture of guns of the larger calibersl employing breech blocks and the associated gun mount and mechanisms it is customary to provide a thread on the periphery of the breech end of the gun barrel in order that the barrel and the breech mechanism may 'be readily joined. Gun barrels of these types are also provided with milled key iiats on their peripheries extending longitudinally adjacent to the threaded ends of the barrels to cooperate with suitable recoil mechanisms of the gun mounts. ejector pockets are also milled-out on the end faces of the breech ends of the barrels. In order that the key flats, keyways and ejector pockets will be in their correct planes and positions relative to the breech and gun mount mechanism after the barrel is fully threaded into the breech mechanism, the transverse center lines through lthe barrel defining these correct planes must be properly located in the correct axial planes on the end of the barrel relative to the start of the breech thread on the barrel. Since the thread is formed on the barrel prior to the machining of the keys, keyways and ejector pockets, vertical, horizontal and oblique center lines across the breech end of the barrel must be located in the transverse planes relative to a predetermined point on the thread form corresponding to the thread start. For example it has been determined in one form of gun barrel that an axial plane through the center line of the barrel and intersecting a point on the front face pitch line of the first thread, which point is exactly one inch from the breech end of the barrel, is the correct axial plane for the vertical transverse center line of the barrel when fully threaded into the breech mechanism. From this vertical center line the corresponding horizontal and oblique center lines can be determined for locating the keys, keyways, ejector pockets and so forth, in proper relation to the above mentioned thread start and therefore in proper relation to the` breech mechanism and gun mount when fully threaded into the breech mechanism.

It is a principal object of my invention therefore to provide a collocating gauge mechanism which may be employed in connection with the external threads on the breech end of a gun Keyways and barrel to quickly and positively locate a transverse center line across the breech end of the barrel in the correct axial plane with. relation to a point on the thread which may be the thread start or a similar predetermined point.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a gauge which will locate the correct axial plane of a transverse center line across the end of a threaded gun barrel or other threaded object Which plane will intersect a predetermined point on the thread, the design and mode of operating the gauge being such that accurate and consistent results may be easily obtained by relatively unskilled operators.

By way of further describing the present invention reference will be made to the following specification and drawings forming a part of this application in which: i

Figure 1 is a plan view of the gauge as seen from above. i

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the gauge.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the gauge.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of a portion of a gun barrel constituting the breech end and showing the breech threads together with part of the key flats.

Figure 5 is an end View of Figure 4 and showing the vertical transverse center line in the plane intersecting the point A on the breech thread.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section of the gun barrel taken along the plane of the vertical axis of Figure 5 and showing the gauge in its operative position. i

Figure 7 is a section on the line 1 1 of Figure 6 taken in a plane through the point A on the breech thread.

' Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings the gauge of my invention is comprised of the ringlike body member Ill having an opening therethrough of greaterdiameter than the diameter of the end of the gun barrel to be gauged. The 'body In is provided with raised and machined locating surfaces H `and I2 which are adapted to Contact the member to be gauged at predetermined spaced points from its axis which as shown may be on the periphery I3 of the end of the gun barrel. To the gauge body I0 is attached a cross member i4. The cross member is so located by the keys l5 and I6 that its edge l1 passes through the axis of the threaded object to be gauged and between the locating surfaces H and i2. The edge Il is intended to function as a ruling edge for a scriber as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, while the rear face of the cross member i4 is intended to contact the end surface of the barrel or threaded object, as

more clearly shown by Figure 6. Extending rearbarrel, but of slightly less width than the thread or thread groove. The thread engaging contact 22 is designed to contact a predetermined point on the thread form and, as shown in detail by Figures 6 and 'I of the drawings, it will be seen that it is provided with a knife edge 23 in align*- ment with the ruling edge I'I to contact a point on the pitch line of the thread. This is a pre-l ferred form of the invention but it should be understood that the gaugel maybe so designed that the thread contacting member may be of any form and may be located'in any position in back of the body i0 providing that it contacts a predetermined point on the thread to thus establish a relationship between the axial plane of the ruling edge Vi and the predetermined point on the thread. The gauge member 2| as shown is accurately positioned by the pin S so that the knife edge. 23 willbe a predetermined distance from the rear face of the cross member ill, which in this' instance is determined to be 1.000" at the pitch line of the thread form for the contact 22. In the preferred form of my invention the cross member I4, the angle bracket 8 and the gauge member 2 l are all non-adjustably attached to the gauge body I0 and are, therefore, accurately machined to be assembled in exact alignment, 'although it should be understood that adjustments may be provided if desired..

Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings are to be considered as showing a portion of the breech end of a gun barrel on which the gauge of my invention is intended to be used. Figure 4 which is a top plan view shows the gun barrel to be provided with a breech thread 25 for attachment to a breech mechanism. Key ats or ns 26 which cooperate with the recoil mechanism of a gun mount. (not shown) are milled on the outer surface of the barrel adjacent to the breech thread. The flats 26 are shown to be completely machined although the dotted lines 21 of Figure 5 show the amount of metal on the-surface of a gun to be removed by a milling operation in order to produce pitch line of the front face of the first thread, and i which point is exactly 1.000 from the end of the gun barrel, should be the point of intersection with the axial plane of the vertical transverse center line 29.

The operation of the gauge of my invention to locate the axial plane of a vertical vtransverse center line 29 relative to the point A will be readily understood by referring to Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The body member I0 is placed in a position surrounding the machined end of the gun 4 barrel with the locating points II and I2 in contact with the periphery I3 of the barrel end and with the cross member I4 abutting the end 28 of the barrel. The gauge may only be thus positioned when the thread contact 22 is extending into the thread groove between the rst and second threads. Since the thread contact 22 as shown is of slightly less widththan the thread groove some freedom of axial turning of the gauge in its gauging position will be permitted. The

gauge is then gripped firmly and turned in the direction of the lead of the threads until the knife edge 23 of the thread contact22 and the rear face ofthe cross member I4 jam against their abutting surfaces. Since the previously mentioned knife edge 23 is located exactly 1.000" from the rear face of the cross member 28, and is also in alignment with the ruling edge I1 of the member I4 constituting a center line for the member to be gauged, a vertical transverse center line across the end of the gun barrel may be located and scribed by Contact with the ruling surface I 'I. The axial plane of thecenter liner so located by my Y gauge will intersect the predetermined point'A l2, the rear face of the cross member I4, and the` i knife edge 23 of the thread Contact k22. With these four points of contact it should be readily seen that a positive gauging action is obtained, minimizing all errors due` to tilting and pivoting at the gauge points of contact. The jamming eifect obtained by the interaction of the rear face of the member I4 and the knife edge 23 is of such positive nature that consistently accurate results will be obtained even when the gauge is used by different operators of varying skill.

. I claim:

l. A collocating gauge for determining theA axial plane of a transverse center line across the end of a threaded object in relation to a predetermined point on the thread, comprising a body member having a pair o-f locating elements adapted to contact at spaced points with the periphery of the member to be gauged, across Y member xed to said body and adapted to contact the end surface of the member to be gauged, said cross member having a ruling edge passing through the axis of the threaded portion when said locating elements are in contact with lsaid periphery, and thread contactingy means positioned rearwardly from said kcross memberY at a predetermined distance to engage the thread in' a. predetermined relation to said predetermined -point on the thread of the member to be gauged.

2. A collocating gauge for determining the axe ial plane of a transverse center line across the endof a threaded object in relation to a predetermined point on the thread, comprising a body member having a pair of locating elements adapted to contact at spaced points with the periphery of the member to be gauged, a crossrnem-V ber fixed to said body and adapted to contact the end surface of the memberto be gauged, said cross member having a yruling edge 4passing through the axis of the threaded'portion when.

5 said locating elements are in contact with said periphery, and threadcontacting means positioned rearwardly from said cross member in alignment with said ruling edge at a predetermined distance to engage the thread in a predetermined relation to said predetermined point on v the thread of the member to be gauged.

3. A collocating gauge for determining the axial plane of a transverse center line across the end of a threaded object in relation to a predetermined point on the thread, comprising a body member having a pair of locating elements adapted to contact at spaced points with the periphery of the member to be gauged, a cross mem* ber fixed to said body and adapted to contact the end surface of the member to be gauged, said cross member having a ruling edge passing through the axis of the threaded portion when said locating elements are in contact with said periphery, and thread contacting means having a knife edge positioned rearwardly from said cross member at a predetermined distance to engage the thread in a predetermined relation to said predetermined point on the thread of the member to be gauged.

4. A COllOCating gauge for determining the axial plane of a transverse center line across the end of a threaded object in relation to a. predetermined point on the thread, comprising a body member having a pair of locating elements adapted to contact at spaced points with the periphery of the member to be gauged, a cross member fixed to said body and adapted to contact the end surface of the member to be gauged, said cross member having a. ruling edge passing through the axis of the threaded portion when said locating elements are in contact with said periphery, and thread shaped thread contacting means positioned rearwardly from said cross member at a predetermined distance to engage the thread in a predetermined relation to said predetermined point on the thread of the meinber to be gauged.

5. A collocating gauge for determining the axial plane of a transversecenter line across the end of a threaded object in relation to a predetermined point on the thread, comprising a body member having a pair of locating elements adapted to contact at spaced points with the periphery of the member to be gauged, a cross member xed to said body and adapted to contact the end surface of the member to be gauged, said cross member having a ruling edge passing through the axis of the threaded portion when said locating elements are in contact with said periphery, and thread shaped thread contacting means having a knife edge positioned rearwardly from said cross member in alignment with said ruling edge at a predetermined distance to engage the thread in a predetermined relation to said predetermined point on the thread of the member to be gauged.

6. A collocating gauge for determining the axial plane of a transverse center line across the end oi. a threaded object in relation to a. predetermined point on the thread, comprising a body member having a pair of locating elements adapted to contact at predetermined points spaced from the axis of the member to be gauged, a cross member fixed to said body and adapted to contact the end surface of the member to be gauged, said cross member having a ruling edge passing through the axis of the threaded portionV when said locating elements are in contact with said predetermined points, and thread contacting means positioned rearwardly from said cross member at a predetermined distance lto engage the thread in a predetermined relation to said predetermined point on the thread of the member to be gauged.

DONALD F. RINGIE. 

